41. Holly, London

‘How are you?' Casey asks.

From my vantage point across the road, I casually look over the top of my phone to the pub windows. Jaz just texted to say they were at the table fourth window from the door. I spot them and my stomach flips. ‘Good. I think.'

‘You think?'

My smile widens and I focus on the screen again. ‘I'm never sure these days.'

‘Where have you been? I've not heard from you. I was getting … well, I was worried.'

A lovely warmth spreads through me hearing that, especially since I was so nervous about showing up unannounced, but Jaz assured me Casey would be ecstatic. If Casey and I are going to do this, then I want it to happen in the same city. So I spent two weeks plotting my arrival with Jaz, packing, and saying tearful goodbyes. ‘I've been travelling.'

‘Travelling?' Confusion flitters across Casey's face. ‘I thought your Mum's house was in Melbourne. Did you have to go somewhere to sort it?'

I step out of the doorway, check for traffic and cross the road, keeping the phone close to my face in an attempt to disguise my location. ‘It is in Melbourne, and all dealt with. I meant, I couldn't reply to you because I was offline while travelling across the world.'

Her brow furrows as the comment processes. ‘Across the world? Like … a fair way across?'

‘You could say that.' I hover outside the door to the pub, pulling the phone away so that the background is visible.

She gasps. ‘Wait, are you…'

I take a few steps along the footpath so that I'm closer to where she and Jaz are sitting. ‘Maybe you should look out the window.'

She spins and I hold up my hand in a wave. The shock on her face will stay with me forever. Behind her Jaz beams and gives me a wave.

‘Oh my God,' Casey says, dropping the phone and rushing out.

I tuck my phone and headphones away as she stops short in front of me, her mouth open. ‘Hi,' I say.

She lets out a short laugh. ‘Hiya.'

We both take a tentative step forward and then she swoops me up, crushing me against her body. I laugh-cry as she kisses my forehead, my temple, my cheek, and then finally my mouth, and my body dissolves at the touch of her lips.

She grips my face. ‘You're here. You're actually here. Does this mean you've forgiven me?'

‘I'm getting there.'

She kisses me hard then, and a group outside the pub ‘aww' in unison.

When we part, she rests her forehead against mine. ‘I can't believe you're here,' she whispers. ‘I swear I was about to book a flight to Melbourne.' She grabs my hand and guides me inside.

Jaz jumps up and opens her arms wide. ‘Holly! Finally, I get to meet you in person.' We hug hello and when she pulls away, she looks me up and down. ‘You're even more beautiful in the flesh.'

I grin. ‘I was just thinking that about you.'

Jaz raises her brows at Casey. ‘Did you hear that? You might have some competition.'

Casey laughs and jerks her thumb in Jaz's direction. ‘Watch her,' she says to me, then addresses Jaz. ‘You have something to do with this? That why you were late and being all shifty?'

Jaz gives a satisfied smirk. ‘Maybe.' She sits and tugs at our hands to join her and points to two glasses on the table. ‘I got you both a glass of champagne to celebrate while you were canoodling on the footpath.'

‘Aw, Jazzy,' Casey says. ‘That's sweet.'

Jaz presses her hand to her chest. ‘I'm a true romantic deep down.' She hands a glass to me and gives one to Casey, then clinks us. ‘To long-lost lovers.'

‘To lost and found lovers,' I say, brushing my lips against Casey's cheek.

‘And to new beginnings,' Casey says, catching my mouth.

Jaz grunts. ‘When I said I was a true romantic, I didn't mean I want it shoved in my face. You two are sickening. Is this what I'm going to have to put up with?' She looks between us, then breaks into a grin.

‘Yep,' Casey says, gazing at me and pushing a strand of hair from my face. ‘Are you tired?' she asks. ‘When did you get here? Have you slept? Are you hungry?'

‘For fuck's sake, Casey,' Jaz says. ‘Stop mollycoddling her.'

I laugh. ‘Yes, I'm tired. I arrived a few hours ago. No sleep and I need food.'

Casey gives a bashful smile. ‘Sorry. I'm just excited. You're here for longer than a holiday, right? You've still got that British passport and dual citizenship?'

I nod. ‘Still got it.'

‘Brilliant.'

Jaz drains her last mouthful of wine and stands.

‘You're not staying?' I ask.

Jaz shakes her head. ‘No can do, Holly darlin'. I've got a date.'

‘Another one?' I ask.

‘Yes, another one, but with the same person,' Jaz says.

Casey raises her eyebrows at me. ‘It's getting serious.'

Jaz points at Casey. ‘I'll see you when I see you. I take it you'll be in bed all weekend at wherever Holly is staying, and good thing, because our flat will be a-rockin'.'

‘The whole flat?' I ask.

Jaz gives a slow, sly smile and her eyes smoulder. ‘Oh, you have no idea.'

Casey rolls her eyes. ‘Dear God.' Then she looks at me. ‘Your timing is perfect.'

‘Later, lovers,' Jaz says and breezes off.

‘Wow,' I say, watching her saunter out. ‘She's something.'

Casey laughs. ‘That's one way to describe her. She's also the best mate anyone could have.' She turns serious. ‘Just so you know – I don't want any secrets – the person she's seeing is Leila, who's a good friend of Eva's.'

I didn't expect to hear Casey mutter Eva's name so soon after arriving, and I try not to react to the jealously rippling through me. ‘Oh. Does that mean Eva's in your circle of friends now?'

Casey shakes her head. ‘No. She's busy with her life and her new partner.'

‘I saw her post last week that she's met someone,' I say sheepishly.

Casey's brows shoot up. ‘You've been cyberstalking her?'

I scrunch my nose. ‘A bit. She actually has some really good make-up tips, although she doesn't post as much as she did.'

‘No. She's giving it a rest for a while, she said. Busy getting a make-up line going and?—'

‘I kissed someone,' I blurt out.

Casey's face falls.

‘I know we had that big conversation about everything, but I wanted to tell you in person so we could talk about it if you wanted to.' I pause to let her speak, but she stays silent. ‘I don't know why I did it; it really meant nothing. I'm sorry.'

‘You have nothing to be sorry for.'

‘It was?—'

‘You don't owe me any explanations,' she says, taking my hand.

‘I don't want us to get back into this with any secrets.'

She nods. ‘Okay.'

‘It was that woman from the wine bar. The one in the photo I showed you in Berlin.'

She pulls her head back slightly. ‘Oh. She found you again. Or you found her…'

‘I was at the same wine bar. Had too much to drink. I was convinced you'd be sleeping with heaps of people. She was there, recognised me…'

Casey swallows. ‘It's none of my business, but … was it just a kiss?' She cowers a little, waiting for my answer.

‘Yes. A brief one at that, because all I could see was you. That made me cry and I ran off and called Jaz.'

Her eyebrows pull together and she gives a short laugh. ‘What?'

‘I called Jaz, and then I called you. It was when you were out for lunch with your family.'

‘Ah, that's why you were upset.' She pauses. ‘I deserve it, I guess. I haven't, just so you know, kissed anyone or been with anyone since you.'

‘I know. Jaz told me.'

‘You asked Jaz that?'

I nod. ‘I needed to know.' I take Casey's hand, her skin soft and warm, and it feels so right to be touching her again. When I look up, she's gazing at me, her eyes soft. ‘Should we maybe forget everything in the past and start again?' I ask.

Casey nods. ‘Mmm. I won't let you down this time.'

‘You might.'

She frowns. ‘True, but I'll try really hard not to. Is that better?'

I kiss her. ‘Better. And I'll try really hard not to let you down.'

We finish the champagne, and I stand holding out my hand for her. ‘Want to come home with me?'

She presses my fingers to her lips. She closes her eyes and breathes me in, then links her fingers through mine. ‘There is nothing I want more.'

We leave the pub and walk hand in hand in comfortable silence, glancing at each other every few seconds. I pull her closer to me. ‘I think we might need to talk about this "I love you" thing.'

Casey winces. ‘Yeah.'

‘A bit soon, maybe?' I say.

She nods. ‘I was desperate. I do love you though, in some capacity.'

I slip my arm around her waist. ‘How about for now we just love getting to know each other better and commit to seeing if this can work?'

She stops in the middle of the footpath and faces me, cupping my cheeks in her hands. ‘I am all in.'